Bush's 2000 GOP acceptance speech has plenty of ammunition

[WI_DEM]

to use against him.

Some cases in point:
"Instead of seizing this moment, the Clinton-gore administration has squandered it. We have seen a steady erosion of American power and unsteady exercise of American influence. Our military is low on parts, pay and morale. If called on by the commander in chief today, two entire divisions of the Army would have to report, "Not ready for duty, sir."

hmm--low morale in the military? low pay? over-extended? It sounds like W was giving a preview of things to come.

"America has a strong economy and surplus. We have the public resoures and the public will, even the bipartisan opportunities to strengthen Social Security and replair Medicare. But this administration, duing eight years of increasing need, did nothing."

Well we can't say W did nothing--he turned that huge surplus into the biggest deficits ever and the strong economy is mediocre at best. By the way? what has he done on Social Security and Medicare?

"We will give our military the means to keep the peace, and we will give it one thing more: a commander in chief who respects our men and women in uniform and a commander in chief who earns their respect."

I wonder how many in the arms services respects a man who sent them into a war without any provocation?

"A generation shaped by Vietnam must remember the lessons of Vietnam: When America uses force in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear and the victory must be overwhelming."

Was our use of force in Iraq a just cause? or a war of revenge or for oil? Was the goal clear? at one point it was about ridding Iraq of WMD and later when they were not discovered it was about ridding the people of Iraq of Saddam Hussein. Has our "victory" been overwhelming? or are we in something akin to Vietnam where the only way out will be a political solution?

I think the dems could dissect W's 2000 Acceptance speech and use his very words against him.

[elperromagico]

1. He also said during the campaign

that he could pay for his tax cuts and still protect Social Security. He also said he'd be a uniter, not a divider. He also said he didn't believe in nation-building.

Jon Stewart charted this territory on The Daily Show, with his hilarious "Bush vs. Bush" clip, which featured Bush from 2000 debating Bush from the present. I'm surprised the Dem leadership haven't picked up on it yet.

Of course, Bush has a ready-made justification: 9/11 changed everything. You see, it's not flip-flopping because of 9/11.

[MichiganVote]

2. Cheney's has a ton of stuff that is flip flopping great too

[dkamin]

3. where to get?

where can one find a transcript of bush's 2000 speech?

[MichiganVote]

4. I don't know. C-Span 2(?) was running old speeches

and I was alternately listening to those as the convention was playing just to compare and contrast. It was really interesting and I do recommend that those who can take a look at the speeches of 2000 and even before that ear. Of coourse all politicians will promise the world but some things in Cheney's speeches were striking in view of the events of the last 3 years. Try Google. If I get a chance, I'll try to find them somewhere.